Her mother swatted his arm. “What do you mean you don’t know what? A fun surprise, that’s what I thought it would be.” Her mom took Ty’s face between both hands and scrutinized her through narrowed eyes. “You look awfully tired, hon. Are you getting enough sleep?”
“Yep. Thanks.”
Her mother pressed a kiss to one cheek and then the next before reaching for little Lucas, who was leaning his head against his grandpa’s leg. “Bye, Lucas. See you tomorrow. You guys have a nice night.”
She shot one last unapproving glare in Ty’s direction and cleared her throat. And then, to Ty’s amazement, Mom followed her dad right out the door.
Memphis analyzed the game board before him. He should have known Ty would be good at chess. She was careful, methodical and, he mused as he glanced up to see a slight grin on her face, good at distracting him.
The lighting in the kitchen had changed as the evening went on. During dinner, bright sunlight poured in through the west-facing windows of her townhouse, lighting her up like an angel. While he helped take care of the dishes afterward, the glow shining into her home made her skin look more like honey. As they gathered around Lucas to hear him read his homework books aloud, the sun slipped behind the twin peaks of Haven Hills, and the low lamplight took the lead, casting shadows over her hazel eyes. The lower light added a new sense of mystery to the woman before him.
Memphis was glad that, after she’d put Lucas to bed for the night, Ty had asked him to stay and join her in a game. Talk about a welcome invitation.
Memphis had underestimated just how much a seven-year-old boy could talk. And as much as he’d enjoyed chatting with him about cars, school, art, and whatever else came to that lively little mind of his, Memphis had been hoping for some grown-up conversation with Ty.
“It’s, um, your turn, in case you didn’t know,” she said in her teasing tone.
Memphis chuckled low in his throat. “You don’t say?” He forced the blurred vision of his knight to come into focus. Where had he been planning to move?
Oh yeah, she was moving in on him with her queen. Hopefully, if he positioned his castle just right, he’d discourage her from making the move she probably had in mind.
Memphis took hold of the top of the chess piece and, since his pawn was gone, slid it three spaces forward. He kept his hand on it while he assessed. There. Now if her queen moved in to take his bishop, she’d have the double threat of his knight and castle. It was better than moving the bishop, sincesomeonehad to play offense on his half of the board.
“Done?” she asked.
The nudge made him second guess himself, but he removed his hand from the piece just the same and nodded. “I guess.”
“You don’t sound so sure,” she said playfully.
“I think you have the advantage here.”
Ty moved one of her knights but kept her queen in place. “How’s that?”
“I keep getting lost in your eyes,” he admitted.
She bit her lip as a smile spread over her pretty face. “Theseold things?” she asked while batting her lashes. A giggle got caught in her throat.
Dang, she was cute. Gorgeous, actually. Memphis shifted his gaze to where a row of photos hung on the wall behind her. Some were of Lucas by himself as a baby, others had Ty in them too. Like the one where Lucas held a fishing line with a small fish dangling from the end. He hadn’t spotted one with the kid’s father yet.
“Do you mind if I ask about Lucas’s dad?” he asked before forcing his attention back to the board. Well, at least his gaze. Mentally, he was dying to hear if this guy was waiting someplace in the wing. Living nearby. Deceased?
“Not at all,” she said. “Eric and I were high school sweethearts. We got married right after graduation. A few months into that marriage, I got pregnant. I’m not sure if he just didn’t want to be a father or if he regretted the commitment altogether, but he asked for a divorce before Lucas was even born.”
“I’m sorry.” It came out in a rasp. Memphis cleared his throat. “I can’t imagine anyone walking away from all of this,” he said, motioning to Ty and the line of photos behind her. “Is he involved in his life at all?”
Ty shook her head. “No. He walked away from everything. His parents have met Lucas a handful of times. Maybe every other year, it seems. I can tell how painful it is for them to…not have the power tomaketheir son care. They view it as a personal failure.”
He nodded as he considered it. “That would be hard to accept.”
“I agree. It’s odd, too, because Eric is successful in other areas of life. He’s a businessman, actually. When Lucas was born, I asked if he’d like to come meet his son and he declined. He was quick to set up child support payments, but the law would have enforced that either way. All he asked in reply was to be left alone. He was done with the both of us.”
A list of vile words spewed through Memphis’s mind as his fist clenched. He’d like to deck the guy for making Ty feel so unwanted, as her comment suggested. And poor Lucas.
“What an idiot,” he finally spat. “What kind of loser wins the lottery and just walks off without cashing the winning ticket and taking home the prize?”
Ty seemed to stiffen at the comment. Or perhaps it was the heat in his words that affected her. Her eyes left his, but only to search his face briefly. When her gaze met his once more, he saw moisture glistening in the corners of her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said in a whisper. “I, for one, think you’re right about that.” She grinned sheepishly.
